Process of ironing clothes



' Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

.Y IV l o. B.4 WIGKHAM. PROCESS 0F IRONING CLOTHES.

(No Model.)

WIT/VESSES UNITED STATES PATENT Ormea OVEN B. VICKHAM, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PROCESS OF IRONING CLOTHES.

To all whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, OWEN B. WIGKHAM, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Process of Polishing Linen; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a process of polishing linenfor instance, collars, cuffs, shirt bosoms, and similar articles; and it consists in the steps hereinafter described and claimed.

Heretofore the custom in laundries where the better class of such work is done has been to starch the garments, wring them out, and lay them aside to dry. After the garments were dried, or nearly so, they were dampened and submitted to the ironing or polishing process, Which consisted in rubbing the face of the garments with smoothing-irons, rollers, or other polishing apparatus. With my improved process the garments are starched and Wrung out as formerly; but in place of laying them aside to dry they are at once subjected to the polishing process, which is as follows: The face of the garment-that is, the side that is to receive the polish-is spread upon a smooth polished surface, either metal, wood, or other suitable material, as may be preferred, and is rubbed down from the center outward to exclude the' air from between the garment and the said smooth surface, the rubbing in the irst instance usually being performed with the fingers. This is an important part of the process, and the polish that the article receives will depend upon such exclusion of the air. In addition to rubbing with the fingers, a rolling-pin such as used in culinary departments, but covered with cloth, may be used, if desired; or a press or other means may be had to press the garments more firmly upon the said smooth surface after the rubbing with the fingers aforesaid. Any or all of these means may be employed; but in the absence of other appliances the Work of the fingers, will be found adequate. The garment and plate are next set aside to dry. This may be 329,797, dated November 3,1885.

(No specimens.)

done in a warm room, drying-oven, or in any suitable place, and any degree of heat may be employed that Will not injure the fabric. Vhen the garment is thoroughly dried, it will cleave off from the plate or other smooth surface of itself, and the side that was next to the plate will be found to be highly polished.

I carried on a laundry for many years, and was familiar with the processes usually employed in such establishments for polishing linen; but I was never enabled to obtain so high a degree of polish as with the process just described. If metal plates are used, they should be highly polished and nckel-plated to prevent them from rusting. Such plates may have a flat surface, or they may he curved to conform somewhat to the shape of the article. A good quality of starch should be used, and no other ingredient is necessary, although the addition of other ingredients such as are common in former processes will do no special harm, and may be added, if preferred.

I have described a convenient way of applying the articles to the plate; but any other manner that is found convenient may be resorted to. For instance, the articles may be applied to the smooth surface by commencing at one end or on one side, the object being to exclude the air, as aforesaid. Glass plates of sufficient thickness so that they are not easily broken may be used to advantage.

In laundries, Where every convenience is usually had-such as drying-rooms, starching and wringing machines, 8va-the work is carried on expeditiously. The process can be carried out and equally good work done in the more primitive manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a view in perspective illustrating the different stages of the process as carried out in the kitchen. On the right hand is shown a person in the act of wringing out a garment after it has been starched, and a tub of starch is shown conveniently near on the floor.

A represents a table. The lady at the left hand is shown in the act of applying a collar to the plate a in the manner already described.

Other plates of different shapes are shown on the table, all of course having a polished upper surface. A rolling-pin is shown in convenient proximity, and may be successfully used on plain Work. 4

B is a stove on or in Which the plates With the articles adhering are placed for drying the-latter.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are diagrammatic views that` Will require no special description.

What I claim is- The process herein described of polishing linen, and consisting 0f starching and wringing out the garments and applying them di- OWEN B. WICKHAM.

Witnessesz' CHAs. H. DORER, ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

